1   There shall no euil happen vnto him that feareth God: but when he is in temptation, the Lorde shall deliuer him, ∧ keepe him from euill.

2   A wyse man hateth not the lawe: but an hypocrite ^note is as a ship in raging water.

3   A man of vnderstanding geueth credence vnto the lawe of God, and the law is faithfull vnto him.

4   Be sure of the matter, then talke therof: be first wel instructe, then mayst thou geue aunswere.

5   The heart of the foolishe, is lyke a cart wheele, and his thoughtes runne about lyke the axeltree.

6    ^noteLyke as a wylde horse that neyeth vnder euery one that sitteth vpon him, so it is with a scornefull friende.

7   Why doth one day excell an other, seeing all the dayes of the yere come of the sunne?

8   The wysdome of the Lorde hath so parted them a sunder, and so hath he ordayned the times and solempne feastes.

9   Some of them hath he chosen and halowed before other dayes.

10   And all men are made of the ^note grounde, and out of the earth of Adam: In the multitude of science hath the Lorde sundred them, and made their wayes of diuers fashions.

11   Some of them hath he blessed, made much of them, halowed them, and claymed them to him selfe: but some of them hath he cursed, brought them low, and put them out of their estate.

12   Lyke as the claye is in the potters hande, and all the ordering therof at his pleasure: so are men also in the hande of him that made them, so that he may geue them as lyketh him best.

13   Against euil is good, and against death is lyfe: so is the vngodlie against such as feare God.

14   Beholde, these are the workes of the hiest, and ^note there are euen two against two, and one set against another.

15   I am awaked vp last of al, as one that gathereth after in haruest: in the giftes of God and in his blessing I am increased, and haue filled my wine presse, lyke a grape gatherer.

16    ^noteBeholde how I haue not laboured onely for my selfe, but for all such as loue nurture and wysdome.

17   Heare me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your eares ye rulers of the congregation. D   

18   Geue not thy sonne, and wyfe, thy brother, and friend, power ouer thee whyle thou liuest: and geue not away thy substaunce ∧ good to another, lest it repent thee, and thou be faine to aske of them againe.

19   As long as thou lyuest and hast breath ^note let no man chaunge thee.

20   For better it is thy children to pray thee, then that thou shouldest be faine to loke in their handes.

21   In all thy workes be excellent, that thy honour be neuer stayned.

22   At the time when thou shalt ende thy dayes and finishe thy lyfe, distribute thyne inheritaunces.

23   The fodder, the whippe, and the burthen belongeth vnto the asse: meate, correction, and worke vnto the seruaunt.

24   If thou set thy seruaunt to labour, thou shalt finde rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seeke libertie.

25   The yoke and the whippe bowe downe the hard necke: but tame thou thy euill seruaunt with bondes and correction. E   

26   Sende him to labour, that he go not idle: for idlenesse bringeth much euill.

27   Set him to worke, for that belongeth vnto him, and becommeth him wel.

28   If he be not obedient, binde his feete: but do not to much vnto him in any wyse, and without discretion do nothing.

29   If thou haue a [faithfull] seruaunt, let him be vnto thee as thyne owne soule: entreate him as a brother, for in blood hast thou gotten him: if thou haue a seruaunt holde him as thy selfe, for thou

hast neede of him as of thy selfe:

30   If thou intreatest him euil, and kepest him hard, and makest him to be proude, and to runne away from thee, thou canst not tell what way thou shalt seeke him.

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